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| | | From: Frazze (Original Message) | Sent: 1/24/2009 12:48 AM |
The poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima, a popular potted plant at Christmas time, provides effective color in the home decor during and after the holiday season. The newer poinsettia cultivators are long-lasting in contrast to the cultivators available a few years ago.
The true flowers of poinsettias are inconspicuous parts in the centers of the colorful bract clusters. Depending on variety, the bracts are red, pink, cream, or white.
When purchased, poinsettias should be in prime condition for decorative use in the home, office, etc. They should be well-shaped plants exhibiting dark green foliage with bracts free from defects.
WATERING
The soil in which poinsettias grow should be kept moist at all times, but not excessively wet. Apply water when the soil surface begins to feel dry and apply enough to the surface until it runs out of the drainage hole. For best results, never allow the foliage to wilt between applications of water.
Avoid placing poinsettias in areas where air movement from windows, doors, fans, or radiators exists. Placement in such areas will cause rapid water loss from the foliage and bracts resulting in the inability of the roots to absorb a sufficient amount of water to offset wilting, thus causing premature flower, bract, and leaf drop.
RE BLOOMING
Poinsettias are among the most difficult plants to re bloom in the home. After plants begin to drop their leaves, withhold water to encourage dormancy, and store in a cool location (50-60 degrees F). Following the last frost in the spring, move the plants outdoors to full sunlight. Prune two or three inches from the end of each stem. The plants will develop a large amount of new growth during summer.
It is probably best to start cuttings from the original plant, which would then develop into sizes you are normally inclined to purchase at Christmas.
In July or August remove three- or four-inch cuttings from the new growth on the plant. Insert each cutting in a small pot containing a sterilized mixture of half sand and half peat moss. Keep the cuttings shaded and watered during the rooting period (about three weeks). Then set the plants in larger pots in a sterilized mixture of equal parts of soil or sand, peat moss and perlite.
Locate the plants in full sunlight, and provide a temperature range of 60-70 degrees F at night. Keep the soil moist, and apply a fertilizer solution (one tablespoon of 20-20-20 per gallon of water) each week.
If you decide that you want to allow your original plant to grow larger and eventually get it to re bloom instead of taking cuttings and starting new plants then follow all of the above procedures, except the paragraph on taking cuttings in July or August.
FLOWERING
Poinsettias form flower buds when the days are shorter than 12 hours. Beginning the first of October, protect the plants from light by placing them in a dark closet between 5:00 PM and 8:00 AM daily. Exposure to even the slightest amount of artificial light during this period will inhibit flowering. After 40 days of this treatment, the plants can be kept in normally lighted rooms. With water, fertilizer, and 60-70 degree F night temperatures, the plants will flower during December. |
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Reply
| | | From: Frazze | Sent: 1/24/2009 12:49 AM |
| Poinsettias - are native to Mexico. They were named after America's first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett, who brought the plants to America in 1828. The Mexicans in the eighteenth century thought the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem.Poinsettia The actual flower of the poinsettia is small and yellow. But surrounding the flower are large, bright red leaves, often mistaken for petals. The plant is also known as "the Christmas Rose". |
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